Twenty years ago there were no pulmonary hypertension treatments available. Through focused research there are now twelve PH-specific treatments with more in development. But we know that your ultimate wish is for a cure, and that is why PHA will continue to support the work of researchers until the day when no one suffers from PH.

PHA’s Research Program

PHA’s Research Program has committed more than $15 million for PH research by leveraging partnerships with the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and the American Thoracic Society (ATS). We have supported 70 promising researchers through four independently reviewed, cutting-edge research programs.

(CNW) - The Pulmonary Hypertension Association of Canada (PHA Canada) was pleased to learn that a new treatment option for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is now being publicly funded in the province of Quebec. On October 1, the Institut national d'excellence en santé et services sociaux (INESSS) recommended that the drug Opsumit (macitentan) be added to the list of drugs covered by the prescription drug insurance plan administered by the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ). Read the full press release

We are excited to announce that we have accredited our first six Pulmonary Hypertension Care Centers (PHCC). This initiative aims at improving overall quality of care and ultimately improving outcomes of patients with pulmonary hypertension.

Two types of centers will be accredited: Centers of Comprehensive Care (CCC) - the first six are listed below - and Regional Clinical Programs (RCP). For interested centers, the PHCC Application is now open and available for download. Many PH programs have already submitted their application, and you can track their progress on the Applicant Center page.

Quality Care from Experts in the Field

“The PHCC will give PH patients security in knowing they are receiving quality care from the experts in the field,” said Dr. Murali Chakinala, from the Washington University School of Medicine and PHCC Committee Chair. “Patients can feel confident that the PHCCs have been vetted by a rigorous process that includes a detailed application and a comprehensive site visit with ultimate adjudication by a Committee of more than 20 health professionals with vast experience in caring for PH patients.”

PHA's Scientific Leadership Council and the PHCC Oversight Committee set high parameters for PHCC accreditation. PHCC accreditation signifies that a PH program has demonstrated a dedication to making proper diagnosis and capacity to appropriately and comprehensively manage PH patients through a set of criteria established by the PHA Scientific Leadership Council – 28 global leaders in the field of pulmonary hypertension. These criteria have also been developed with input from many PH stakeholders including physicians, allied health care professionals, patients and PHA leadership and are considered essential to delivering high-quality care for these complex patients.Patient Registry for Determining Effective Care

Accredited PH Care Centers will also contribute to a PH patient registry that will track diagnostic and treatment patterns at a national level, ultimately demonstrating quality improvement for the care of PH patients.

“The PH patient registry will provide important data on the care and outcomes of patients with pulmonary hypertension across the country,” said Dr. Steven Kawut of the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. “We can then begin to understand best practices in the treatment of PH and continue to improve the quality of life and survival of individuals with this disease.”

Linking Centers through a national network will increase collaboration in the PH community, through clinical, quality improvement and investigative partnership.

Scleroderma patients should be screened every year for pulmonary hypertension even if they are recently diagnosed and have no respiratory symptoms. Noninvasive tests can catch pulmonary problems early, and treatments are available to slow the progression of scleroderma. Read more and watch the video

Jiwang Chen, research assistant professor of critical care medicine, sleep and allergy in the UIC College of Medicine, and his colleagues investigated the molecular mechanisms behind the abnormal proliferation of smooth muscle cells in the pulmonary artery and discovered two ways that the proliferation could be suppressed.

Dr. Chen as well as collaborating author Guofei Zhou have received research grants from PHA in the past. Dr. Roberto Machado, one of the senior authors, is a member of PHA's Scientific Leadership Council and is the PHA Medical Education On-Demand National Chair.

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The information provided on the PHA website is provided for general information only. It is not intended as legal, medical or other professional advice, and should not be relied upon as a substitute for consultations with qualified professionals who are familiar with your individual needs.